Blueprint opened EAG with a significant order from Buzz Bingo which set a confident tone for the ensuing days spent at ExCeL London. Whilst the company received strong interest across the range, the Velocity cabinet, which is the first Cat C to feature a video deck, represented BPO’s show stopper.

Coinslot: How did the show go for you this year: did it meet your expectations?

Andy Tipple: Overall I thought it was an excellent show for Blueprint and the team. We started EAG in the best possible way securing a three figure machine order from Buzz Bingo which set the mood for the rest of the time spent at ExCeL. 

Word had obviously got out regarding the strength of our offering and as a consequence we had a constant flow of interested and engaged operators resulting in good solid sales across the complete product range of Cat C, Cat B3 and Cat B4 cabinets. 

We attend all of our expos armed with a target list of operators that we want to have on the stand and I think we were able to spend some quality time with all of our existing customers as well as a number of new customers  who are coming into the AGC and Single Site sectors.

Added to that we had a good representation of operators from both Northern Ireland and the Republic. Significantly, the entire team is really excited about the prospects for the year ahead.

Coinslot: Any key developments finalised at EAG – new agreements signed, new appointments, installations agreed etc?

Andy Tipple: A number of orders that we had been working on were confirmed on our stand not least the Buzz Bingo agreement. 

Whilst the sales process is continuous having product in front of you provides an ideal environment to engage with customers. The ability to demo the new cabinets, games and menus effectively streamlines the decision making process. 

 Coinslot: What were the stand highlights – which products caught the attention and what was reaction to your portfolio of products?

Andy Tipple: Our three new cabinets, the Velocity, the Revolution and the Revolution 49” were high profile and as a consequence captured the imagination of EAG visitors. 

 The new range was extremely well received by all of our customers who in many cases were seeing it for the first time. 

The Velocity which is our new Cat C cabinet was a standout not least because it’s the first Cat C  to feature a video deck. There’s great enthusiasm from the Pub Sector. 

The most important measure is machine income and we are seeing a significant uplift when games and menus are housed in the Velocity. Increasingly Pub Cos want their venues to have a contemporary look and feel and the Velocity does the job.

We continue to invest heavily in Cat C product evident in a new cabinet and new bespoke games. The development programme is customer-led and has been validated by the number of machine orders taken at the show. 

Our Roulette games received some amazing feedback. The Roulette player is different to a slot or poker player which means that venues can build a new player base by delivering choice and providing a real alternative to a slot or poker experience. It’s a centre piece which creates powerful theatre.

The Revolution and the Revolution 49 are two of the most attractive cabinets on the market and provide points of differentiation in what is a highly competitive leisure retail environment. 

The Project 23 demonstrates our commitment to providing the market with a compelling product mix. At EAG we also showed the proven game formats of Double Your Money and Mega Bars Bonus alongside Jack or Better and the new Seven Heaven poker. 

Coinslot: It’s going to be a defining year for the business – new legislation and new regulation. How did you gauge the general mood of the industry and what were the main talking points?

Andy Tipple: There was a change in the conversations that we had in 2025 compared to last year. 12-months ago the discussions were all about the White Paper – both in terms of content and the timeline. 

After a year of zero movement  operators across  all sectors need to get on with running their business and can’t wait for the Government to make decisions. 

This year was about planning for change as opposed to waiting for change. Many customers who are buying new B3’s are looking to move exciting product to Cat C knowing that with BPO they have the opportunity to go back to B3 when the new machine ratios are announced. This can all be done remotely  so it’s quick, clean and simple. 

The mood was positive  because customers have a plan. The situation with regards to the White Paper  is far from ideal but with costs increasing you have to stay focused, plan and invest. Future proofing was the driver at this show.

Coinslot: Now the show is over, what’s on your agenda going into spring in terms of new products, new projects and more exhibitions?

Andy Tipple: We have been very focused on delivering the new cabinets in 2024. The development time and resource are significant, but like our customers we are extremely happy with the end result. 2025/26/27 will be all about content. We will have a 100 percent focus on game development for specific market segments – and the development of the right menus to deliver great games. The development team is really looking forward to extending its design focus utilising the new V decks on the complete cabinet range.

Post EAG we have been at ICE Barcelona as part of the Group and will be supporting the Irish trade show in March.